The fight isn’t over the importance of saving Music Hall and Union Terminal -- the real debate is over how to pay for it.

Inside Cincinnati Music Hall, we’ve seen the need for modernization and fixing electrical equipment during a recent tour. At Union Terminal, there are mechanical systems that need updating and water damage that needs repairs.

Paying for the work on both buildings will cost an estimated $331 million, to be paid for by a proposed 1/4 percent sales tax increase in Hamilton County.

Right now, County Commissioner Greg Hartmann is not sold on putting the issue before voters.

“These are incredibly expensive buildings, these are incredibly iconic buildings – but we’re talking about a very big number here,” Hartmann said.

The city has committed $10 million to Music Hall renovations, but Hartmann thinks the Dalton Street bridge outside Union Terminal is something the city should pay for, too – that’s a $17 million piece of the puzzle.

There are also questions about whether the city will continue to pay for maintenance on the buildings.

Before Hartmann gives approval for the sales tax to go on the ballot, he wants these questions answered.

“The city owns both these buildings and unless the city steps forward in a more significant way, I view that as a dealbreaker,” Hartmann said.

Hartmann believe it’s more likely voters will say yes to the ballot issue if they know they’re getting the best deal possible.

“I think my job as a county commissioner is to make sure I think it’s a fair deal,” Hartmann said. “Until I get to a point where the proposal is fair to county taxpayers, I’m not going to vote to put it on the ballot.”

Time is running out to strike a deal. The commissioners face a deadline of Aug. 6 to get the issue on the ballot.

Hartmann said he’s been in discussions with a number of City Council members about reaching a better deal. He’s hoping to have more talks with Mayor John Cranley when he returns from vacation.

OHIO. IT UNDERSCORES THE EXTENT OF THE TRAFFICKING PROBLEM. A CAMPAIGN TO SAVE OUR ICONS. THEY WANT TO PUT THE SALES TAX INCREASE BEFORE VOTERS PAY FOR RENOVATION WORK IN THOSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS BUT THE ISSUE MAY NOT MAKE IT TO THE BALLOT. THEY HAVE MORE ON THE DEBATE. THERE IS REALLY NO FIGHT OVER THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING HE'S A CALL AND UNION TERMINAL. WE HAVE SEEN THE NEED FOR MODERNIZATION AND FIXING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS NEED UPDATING AND WATER SYSTEMS NEEDS REPAIRS. THESE ARE INCREDIBLY ICONIC BUILDINGS AND WE TALKED ABOUT A VERY BIG NUMBER. THIS TOTAL DEAL IS 300 AND $31 MILLION. THE PRICE TAG GIVING HIM PAUSE. HE HAS QUESTIONS HE WANTS ANSWERED. TO DATE, THE CITY HAS NOT COME FORWARD ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY. UNLESS THE CITY STEPS FORWARD IN A MORE SIGNIFICANT WAY, I VIEW THAT AS A DEALBREAKER. HARTMAN THINKS THAT THE DALTON STREET BRIDGE IS SOMETHING THE CITY SHOULD PAY FOR. A $17 MILLION PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE BUILDINGS. IT'S MORE LIKELY THEY WILL SAY YES TO THE BALLOT ISSUE IF THEY KNOW THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE. MAY MAKE SURE IT IS A FAIR DEAL. I WILL NOT VOTE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT. THEY FACE A DEADLINE OF AUGUST 6. THEY HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH A NUMBER OF CITY COUNCIL